Condiment-shaker.



Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

'INVENTOR WITNESSES:

IOLUMBIA PLAnooaAHv (0.. WASHINGTON. 0. c4

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MANASSES. :oEvINn, F J'AoK's'oN, CALIFORNIA, Assmnon or TWO-SIXTHS TO Jenn N. ounno AND ONE-SIXTH r0 inn-s. BIGGIA dunno, or CLINTON, CALIFORNIA.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed April 9, 1914. Seria1No.830,605.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANAssEs DEvINn, a citizen of the -United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of. Amador and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Condiment Shakers, of

. which the following is aspecification.

. the invention.

This invention relates to containers for distributing salt, pepper and other useful condiments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a condiment shaker with a "receptacle or container which may be charged with'a suitable quantityofzcondiments, and which is provided witha valve structure at its bottom or lower portion for controlling the dispensation of the condiments from the vessel, a simple and suitable means being provided at the top of the container, which is operable by the pressure of the finger, for opening the valve when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condiment container, which maybe designed with a plurality of valves for controlling the discharge of condiments from the container; and further to provide a'container with a plurality of chambers, each for the reception of different-condiments, such as salt, pepper, etc; and to provide a valve structure capable of discharging from the container any of the condinients therein.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical central section, partly in section, of the zpreferredfo-rln of Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. '3 is a vertical central -sectional view, showing a double compartment container with a valve'structure for discharging a portion of the contents from either chamber. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the stem lock. Fig. 5 shows a modified form of valve.

-52 represents a suitable container of any desired material, having athreaded neck portion 3,- upon which is adjustable a complementary closure -or-cap 4:. The cap/ 4: is provided with a yieldable part or but-tone which is normally thrust upwardly ;"by' a spring tiinpronthe GEhIDAQ-qfallld which has-1a radial orlateral projection 'l-aidaptedrte-cor ac;1 vith the upper end of a'plunger or push r0 Upon the lower portion or bottom 9 of the container, there may be formed or attached a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical chamber 10; connection being provided through the bottom..9 by an aperture or apertures 11 whereby a portion of the condiment in the container may find egress to the bottom of sub-chamber 10. The sub-chamber 10 is provided'with a plurality of discharge apertures 12, which are adapted to be closed by a shuttter or valve 13. The valve 13 has a snug circumferential fit with the exterior surface of the sub-chamber 10 and is mounted on pivots llfor angular movement. One end of the shutter or valve 13- is provided with a small pinion or set of gear teeth 15, intermeshing with complementary rack teeth 16 which are formed upon the lower end of the push-rod 8. Surrounding the upper end of the push-rod 8 is a spring 17 which reacts thereon to thrust the push-rod upwardly and simultaneously turn the valve 13 so as to cover the discharge apertures 12 of the sub-chamber 10.

When it is desired to dispense a portion of the condiment from the container, the operatormay simply lift the latter with one hand and by the pressure of one finger'upon the yieldable button 5 of the cap 4: depress the push-rod 8, through its connection with the projection 7, and the reciprocation of the rack 16 will actuate the valve 13 and shift it from closing position over the dis charge apertures 12. Instantly upon the re lease of the finger from the button -5, this will automatically rise and the spring 17 will react to lift the push-rod 8 and close the shutter or valve 13 over the discharge apertures 12. There may be as many'of the sub-chambers '10 andtheir respective valves as is desiredmounted upon the bottom of the receptacleQ, as shown in Fig. 2.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Any suitable means may be utilized for i gaging position with the upper portion of the push-rod 8. One means is shown as comprising a small click or spring finger 20 which may be. attached to or formed as a partjof.-the .-cap 4 WVhlChpllS adaptedto enter a slight depression or --engage a suita able cooperative surface 21, formed on the neck of the vessel at such a position as will limit the position of the cap 4: when the projection 7 is in coincidence with the complementary part of the push-rod 8.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification of the invention, in which there is provided, on

the. screw cap 4, an oscillating lever or button 5 which is centrally pivoted, as at 25, and is supported, yieldably, by springs 26,

'one on each side of the pivot 25. The outer end of the button or lever 5 connects with theupper end of a push-rod S which is normally elevated by a spring 17, and the lower end of which push-rod is provided with a rack 16."The rack 16 engages a V pinion or pinions'15 which are formed or secured on the adjacent end of a cylindrical valve 13; the latter being moved a SllfllClQIlt number of degrees, in either direction, when the button 5 is oscillated. The cylindrical valvel3 is divided by a wall 27 into two chambers. The ends of the valve 13 have respective inlet ports 28 and 29 positioned, respectively, so as to be moved into engagement with respective feed ports 30 and 31;

these latter being formed in feed tubes 32 -which are suitably attached to the bottom I of the container 2 and communicate with the 7 interior thereof through-apertures 33.

From the foregoing itwill be seen that when the button or lever 53 1s pressed in one direction, it will, through its connection by the push-rod 8" and rack 16, revolve the rotary cylindrical valve 13 in one direction and cause the registration of one set of ports, as, for instance, 29 31, Fig. 3. Then j a portion of the condiment in the container 2 on one side; of the dividing wall 3: would be dispensed through the apertured discharge cylinder 13. Upon the release of pressure from the lever 5 it will automatically resume its normal position, under the action of the springs 26, and revolve the cylindrical valve 13 to closefthe cooperative ports '28'30 and 29 31. When a portion of the condiment-on the opposite side of the central dividing wall 34 is desired to be dispensed, then the operator pushes the opposite end of the lever 5 soas, for instance, to lift the push-rod 8 and thus rotate the cylindrical valve 13' in an opposite direction to cause the registration of the'cooperating ports 2830 and permit thejflow of condiment from the respectiveside of the container 2 into the opposite side'of-the cylin- ,der 13 from which it will be discharged;

proper or desired condiment;

Any suitable lock may be utilized to retain the plunger 8 in position to hold the shutter or shutters l3 closed when the cap is removed. In this instance a disk 36, Fig. at, is pivoted at 37 on the container and has a nick 38 allowing vertical movement of the stem 8 'therethrough. This latter is slotted at 39, and when the disk lock is turned slightly its rim passes into the slot and then prevents movement. The cap at may have a lug 40 engageable with the lock wheel 36 for turning this as the cap is moved in either direction.

Any substance leaking past the spouts or tubes 32 is collected in small hollow hubs 27' of the valve or valves 27 and is sifted through apertures 27.

In Fig. 5 a further modification of the invention consists of cylindrical valves l3 whose ports are closed by rotation beneath the bottom of the container.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A salt and pepper shaker comprising a receptacle, a removable closure mounted upon one end of the receptacle, said receptacle being provided at its lower portion with a plurality of discharge apertures, a shutter movable over and from said apertures, a yieldable member connected to said closure, a separable connection between said member and said shutter whereby, upon the application of pressure to said member, the shutter may be moved from closing position over the apertures, and means for automatically returning 'the shutter to closing position when pressure is removed from said member.

2. A salt and pepper shaker comprising a receptacle having an open mouth, a cap removably adjustable over the mouth and having a yieldable portion, said container having a plurality of discharge apertures at its bottom, an angularly movable shutter fitting the adjacent surface about said apertures and movable over and from the apertures to control the discharge of salt and pepper therefrom, a connecting rod engaging at its lower end with said shutter and connected at its upper end with said yieldable portion of the cap, whereby. upon the application of pressure to said yieldable cap portion, motion is transmitted to the shutter for the removal of the same from over said discharge apertures, means whereby upon rotation of the cap said rod will be disengaged therefrom, and a spring reacting upon said connecting rod to automatically operate the same for again positioning said shutter over the discharge apertures when pressure is removed from the movable part of the cap.

3. In a condiment shaker, a receptacle having a lower discharge, means for normally closing the discharge, a closure for the re- 1,161,293 t it ceptacle top, means associated with said closure for operating the closing means, spring pressed means for separably connecting the closing and operating means whereby the latter can be removed while the closing means maintains the discharge closed, and means for locking the connecting means against the action of the spring so as to there by hold the closing means, in normal position when the operating means is removed, to allow refilling of the receptacle.

4-. A condiment shaker comprising a receptacle having at its upper end an open mouth and a removable closure therefor and having a sub-chamber with a cylindrical surface at its bottom end provided with a plurality of apertures, a shutter angularly movable over and fitting said surface, a yieldable member mounted in said closure, a separable means connecting said yieldable member and said shutter whereby, upon the application of pressure to said yieldable member, the shutter will be actuated to uncover the discharge apertures, and means for automatically closing the shutter and for holding the shutter closed whilelthe closure is removed from'the receptacle.

5. A salt and pepper shaker comprising a container with discharge apertures and shutters therefor on its lower portion, means manually operable to open said shutters, and automatic means for closing the shutters, said opening means comprising a cap with a yieldable part mounted on the opposite end of the container from the discharge portion, said opening means and said closing means cooperating in the opening operation and being disconnectible so that the closure may be removed for permitting the filling of the receptacle, and said closing means remain'undisturbed in its normally shutter closing position.

6. A salt and pepper shaker comprising a receptacle with apertures at its lower portion for the discharge of the contents, a shutter normally covering the apertures,

automatic means closing said shutter, and a removable cap mounted upon the upper end of the container having a part coacting with the automatic closing means and separable from the latter, and means for limiting the closing position of said cap upon the con tainer to maintain a predetermined position between said cap and said automatic means to thereby hold said cap part in operative connection with the closing means.

7. In a condiment shaker, a receptacle having a lower discharge, means for nor mally closing the discharge, a closure for the receptacle top, means associated with said closure for operating the closing means, spring pressed means for separably connecting the closing and operating means whereby the latter can be removed while the closing means maintains the discharge closed, and means for locking the connecting means against the action of the spring so as to thereby hold the closing means in normal position when the operating means is removed to allow refilling of the receptacle, including a member pivoted to the receptacle, and means on the closure which upon movement of the latter moves the member into and out of locking positions.

8. In a condiment shaker, a receptacle having lower discharge openings, movable means for normally maintaining said openings closed, means at the top of the receptacle for operating said first named means, and means for separably connecting the first and second named means whereby the second named means can be removed from the re ceptacle while the first named means maintains the discharge openings closed to allow of filling of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MANASSES DEVINE. Witnesses:

D. J. BRISCO,

F. W. RUI-ISER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

